Wednesday, April 30, 2014

C126 is go

Great news to hear that the Minister for Planning has
approved Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme Amendment C126 without changing the
wording submitted by council.

The journey to get to this point has been a long one
and started back in May 2008 with the development of Vision2020 by Design.

Amendment C126 is an articulation of Vision2020
by Design, a document which provides guidance on desired built form outcomes
across the Yarra Ranges. C126 is a translation of Vision2020 by Design
into Planning Scheme controls known as Design and Development Overlays (DDOs).

The newly approved overlays will provide design guidelines for new
developments across town centres in Yarra Ranges. They are all about the built
form component of new developments. The design guidelines will make it easier
for potential applicants and other interested parties to understand Council’s
design objectives for the future development of town centre areas.

Amendment C126 received a high level of media interest due to the
inclusion of a provision that “Buildings and works
that comprise drive through sales facilities are
discouraged”, with this provision covering the
townships of Belgrave, Kallista, Mt Dandenong, Olinda, Sassafras and Tecoma.

As part of the public exhibition process council received 73
submissions, the majority of those from community members in the Dandenong
Ranges concerned about the prospect of more convenience restaurants in the
hills. McDonalds also submitted to the public exhibition process, citing
concerns with the DDOs around the ‘step down’ approach to building heights, the
retention of buildings that contribute to the character of the town centre, the
need for verandas to be designed based on established veranda design and lastly
the provision to *discourage drive throughs associated with convenience
restaurants (*note the final wording of this provision was changed to: buildings
and works that comprise drive through sales facilities are discouraged).

It should be noted that the DDO’s give greater weight to built form
outcomes and will be useful planning policy into the future, sadly we didn’t
have the weight of planning scheme policy when considering the McDonalds
application and could only rely on Vision2020 by Design which does not have the
same status as a Design and Development Overlay.

I congratulate the Minister for approving the amendment as presented,
certainly has made a lot of locals very happy and the new DDOs will be part of
the many tools available when assessing built form elements in new developments
across Yarra Ranges into the future.

The next step in affording greater planning protections to the Dandenongs
is the development of a Localised Planning Statement, Yarra Ranges is one of 4
councils in Victoria to have this additional policy control granted by the
Minister for Planning. I’m currently in discussions with the Minister for
Planning to ensure it includes the Dandenongs.

Monday, April 14, 2014

minibeasts on show at birdsland

Yes it's that time of year again, where young and old can learn all about our local little creatures at the Minibeast Festival. It's a great way to find out more about our local environment, particularly those creatures who inhabit our waterways and provide a valuable food source for our local icon, the platypus. Where: Birdsland Reserve, Belgrave HeightsWhen: Sunday 27 April, from 11am to 3pmFood: BBQ provided by Selby Primary, vegetarians and coffee lovers catered forCost: Free!Activities: Platypus walk and talk, exploring minibeasts, giant yabby lantern making for the Lantern Parade.Thanks to Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group for coordinating and Melbourne Water and Yarra Ranges Council for support.

The Minibeast Festival is an annual favourite, at lastyear's festival I was delighted to add this lemon tree tothe sustainable garden at Birdsland.Pictured left to right: Vicki from SDLG, Gavin from Yarra Ranges Council and me, Cr Samantha Dunn.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

reducing our carbon footprint

Yarra Ranges’ street lighting upgrade is has started with
the first of approximately 7,000 existing mercury vapour and high pressure
sodium type street lights across the municipality replaced with T5 fluorescent lights.

The new, more energy efficient T5 technology will use
around 70% less energy producing a clearer light (closer to natural
daylight), reducing glare, and giving greater uniformity of light across and along the street. The
new T5 lights meet Australian Standards in regards to safety and lighting levels.

The current estimated cost of this street lighting
upgrade project is $1.85 million, with $1.3 million of this funded from Council’s Carbon
Management Fund. Street lighting currently costs Council $620,000 each year. The instant 70%
reduction in energy use and operating cost will see the project pay for itself in around 4
years and save Council and ratepayers almost $8 million over the 20 year life
of the assets.

Council is committed to reducing its annual greenhouse
emissions by 30% on 2000 levels by 2020. This project will reduce our annual emissions
by 2,250 tonnes, achieving 40% of our reduction target.

Installation of the new T5 streetlights will commence
in the urban areas of the municipality, before extending through to the rural areas, with project
completion anticipated in late June 2014.

It's been a long time in the waiting, but great to see
the changeover finally happening.

About Me

It's a great honour and privilege to serve the people of the Lyster Ward. I was voted onto council in 2005 and have been re-elected twice since with a Greens record 58.93% primary vote in 2012. I'm passionate about the community and I enjoy working with them to shape an even better future. This term on council I will be representing the various township groups in Lyster, Belgrave Hub Project Steering Committee Birdsland Advisory Committee, Burrinja, Eastern Regional Libraries Corp, Eastern Transport Coalition, Fire Management Committee, Graffiti Working Group and the Municipal Emergency Management Committee. In 2009 I was elected as Chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition and continue to serve in that role. In 2011 I was elected President of the Victorian Local Governance Association after serving two years as Treasurer. In Dec 2013 I stood down as President as I was preselected to run for the Greens in Eastern Metropolitan in the 2014 state election. IMAGES FROM THIS BLOGSITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED OR REPUBLISHED WITHOUT PERMISSION, if you wish to use an image just ask by emailing samantha.dunn@vic.greens.org.au. ANONYMOUS AND/OR OFFENSIVE COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED.